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Core Measure Impact

Teen Birth Rate

Related Measures

Teen Birth Rate

Thematic Map

Teen Birth Rate

Overview

Teen Birth Rate is the number of births per 1,000 mothers aged 15 to 19 years. The 2014 ranks are based on 2012 birth certificate data from the National Vital Statistics System, CDC.

Teen birth rates are lowest in New Hampshire at 13.8 births per 1,000 mothers aged 15 to 19 years and highest in Oklahoma and New Mexico at over 47 births per 1,000 mothers aged 15 to 19 years. The national rate is 29.4 births per 1,000 mothers aged 15 to 19 years.

Prevention of teen and unplanned pregnancy is an important part of a healthy community. According to the CDC, nearly 330,000 infants were born to 15 to 19 year olds in 2011, a record-low birth rate of 31.1 births per 1,000 women in this age group.[1] Historically, the majority of these births have been unintended in girls younger than 18 years and more than half have been unintended among 18 to 19 year olds.[2] CDC estimates that teen pregnancy and childbirth costs more than $11 billion per year to US taxpayers due to “increased health care and foster care, increased incarceration rates among children of teen parents, and lost tax revenue because of lower educational attainment and income among teen mothers.”[3][4] A valuable resource for further information about teen and unplanned pregnancy is available from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

Teen birth rates are lowest in New Hampshire at 13.7 births per 1,000 mothers aged 15 to 19 years and highest in Arkansas and Mississippi at over 50.0 births per 1,000 mothers aged 15 to 19 years. The national rate is 31.3 births per 1,000 mothers aged 15 to 19 years.